The demand for a DM (designated marksman) at the small-unit level cap­­able of supplying rapid, accurate fire at enemy targets is being heard from all branches of the military. The U.S. Army considered a program to embed one sharpshooter in every squad to counter the insurgent’s tactics in Iraq and Afghanistan. This shooter became known as an SDM (squad designated marksman).

Any soldier who serves in the SDM slot is first a rifleman and secondly a designated marksman. The SDM isn’t a sniper and isn’t asked to engage targets with extreme precision at extreme ranges. The role of the SDM is to support the squad with well-aimed shots at ranges that might extend beyond 200 meters. Unlike snipers who take up strategic, static positions, SDMs are fluid and change their locations with the movement of their respective squad.

Return of the Springfield
The sudden need to equip marks­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­man with accurized rifles called for a USAMU (U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit) AR/M16-style rifle chamb­ered in 5.56x45mm NATO that permits logistical concerns to remain consistent with the remainder of the unit. Logistics became a problem anyways and cries for a heavier caliber rifle began to resonate through the ranks.

The recent need to adapt the battle rifle for a new role caused the U.S. Army to reconsider the role of the M14/M21 for the War on Terror. Still maintained in armories throughout the country, the adapted M14 had been officially re-designated the M21 in 1975. This conversion proved to be an easier and less expensive move for the U.S. Army.

The 10th Special Forces Group armorers reworked the M21 just before Operation Desert Storm and named their version the M25. Even though there were obvious improvements, the M25 designation today is synonymous with the M21 among those who don’t understand the differences. These armorers took an M14 equipped with an NM (National Match) barrel and fitted a gas piston for optimal performance. They replaced the stock with a McMillan M1A fiberglass stock, developed a scope mount and added a Bausch & Lomb 10x40mm fixed-power scope or a Leupold Mark 4. This new scope mount also permits the use of an AN/PVS-4 night vision sight.

The M21 and M25 provide the SDM with on-command direct fire support for his squad, a fire team or his platoon. They support their leaders by providing cover when machine guns displace, with counter-sniper fire in urban areas, and help in overtaking valuable real estate. The DM role has been used in Iraq in conjunction with convoy security for its ability to reduce the potential for collateral damage.

The versatility of the M21/M25 has been seen with the development of night vision devices and sound suppression technology. Infrared targeting lasers like the AN/PEQ-2 and PAQ-4C make the DM’s job more like ’round-the-clock shift work. Now that suppressors for the M14-series of rifles are available, the night-vision capabilities coupled with sound suppression makes the soldier’s ability to own the night even more secure.

The Enhanced Battle Rifle
The M21/M25 is currently used by many units throughout Iraq and Afghanistan. Much action for these rifles is seen by the U.S. Army National Guard units who were handed down these rifles when the U.S. Army replaced the M21 with the M24 bolt-action among units on active duty. Since the War on Terror began, private industries have been working feverishly to develop options for military procurement, particularly in the area of extending the life of existing weapon systems.

To prepare troops designated as the SDM, Crane Division of the NSWC (Naval Surface Warfare Center) teamed up with Sage International to create an M14/M1A package that is labeled the EBR (Enhanced Battle Rifle). Utilizing the M14 barrel, re­­ceiver and trigger groups, the EBR chassis stock adds a retractable stock, a cheek piece that’s adjustable for height, and a floated Picatinny quad-rail fore end made of high-strength aluminum. The operating rod block is replaced and must be press fitted, improving barrel harmonics and thereby increasing accuracy potential. The EBR also adds a pistol grip for additional control and ergonomic sling points.

The EBR was initially tested by the “Armed Forces Journal” and was well received. The EBR is “an excellent platform,” noted one AFJ evaluator. “It seemed to reduce recoil and made mounting of various mission-required accessories much easier… It’s a low-cost, effective platform that turns existing surplus M14s into modern battle rifles.”

They Want It Anyway
The U.S. Army maintains a list of criteria that small-arms designers contend with. One of these requirements in this case was to keep the weight below 11 pounds. The available rifles that fire the 5.56 NATO cartridge require less weight in construction, than do those rifles that fire the 7.62 NATO cartridge. In comparison, an M16 weighs nearly 7 pounds and an additional pound for every 30 rounds of 5.56 NATO that the soldier carries. The basic M14 on the other hand, weighs nearly 10 pounds with an additional 1.8 pounds for every 20 rounds of 7.62 NATO.

A soldier’s wisdom varies from one to another but many don’t care about the weight numbers in regards to the tool that might save their life. Before boarding the plane that will take them to the desert, soldiers walk across a scale, and often weigh in with as much as 300 pounds of gear strapped to their backs and in their bags. The confidence in the effective range and terminal ballistics brings the argument back to the M14. The development of a 16-inch-barreled M1A by Springfield Armory in combination with the aluminum chassis makes the EBR a viable option for government consideration.

EBR Performance
The EBR feels a little heavy at the fore end. However, this characteristic helps the SDM rifle stand against one of its criticisms, that it is uncontrollable when firing on full-auto. The additional weight and the fact that the stock is in line and parallel with the barrel, helps reduce muzzle climb.

The EBR chassis comes with a Picatinny rail that replaces the stripper-clip guide. This permits a mounting point for high-powered scopes that can extend the effective range of the M21/M25. Unique to the EBR is an extended rail just forward of the receiver. For the followers of the Jeff Cooper doctrine on scout rifles, red dot optics work well in making this rifle an effective CQB (close quarter battle) scout rifle. Regardless of scope height, proper cheek weld can be easily ensured by adjusting the EBR stock’s height.

Not Just a Stopgap
As the U.S. Army and U.S. Marines continue to develop a semi-auto designated marksman rifle, many within the tactical community feel that the resurrection of the M14 is just a stopgap. Accolades from troops using the M21/M25 and moves made by the U.S. Navy suggest otherwise. In 2004, the U.S. Navy developed a contract to upgrade nearly 3,000 of their M14s with the Sage EBR chassis.

What will remain in any case is the SDM. The smallest infantry unit includes a team leader, two riflemen and a gunner. One of these riflemen will be expected to fill the role of the designated marksman, using optics to distinguish combatants from non-combatant and minimizing collateral risk with precision rifle fire in urban areas. The book on small unit tactics has evolved to defeat a new kind of enemy, just as has Springfield Armory’s M14.

I’m currently deployed to Afghanistan and the new EBR is my primary weapon. It’s deadly effective in the day, I can reach out and touch targets at 600-1000 meters with no problem. The issue I’m facing, is that once the sun goes down, I feel completely ineffective. We have PVS-10’s with us, but I don’t want to have to detach my Leapold every time the sun goes down and try to fire this weapon with an un-zeroed night sight. My question is, what methods has someone come up with to utilize a variable 10x scope at night. I’ve tried the PVS-14’s and the picture isn’t clear, and the PEQ systems is useless unless I can see what I’m firing at. Anyone have any ideas?

rdv

Im glad that we have this to help our soldiers protect them selves and stop worring about what we will do to our enemy and how bad we will hurt them and start worring about how to protect our soldiers we need more tahn a couple of guys trained as SDM’s the more the merrier and gtod forebid we kill the guys that are trying to kill us.

Ranger

the scope rail is too far forward. instead of putting it to where it is harder to use the optic why not redesign it to eject the caseing out the side. It just dosent feel right haveing to strain to be able to use the optic. If the pressure was on and my life or my squads life depended on my shot this current configureation would hinder my ability to take out my objective or be tactical. the fold stock also breaks and is not as dependable as on that would colaspe. In my profesional openion this wepon has been taken from great to unconventional it will cost more lives then it will save in its current configureation if you want a good wepon that is reliable try the L1A1 made by brazilian arms. it is a better design then the current one seen here.

Brandon

I was at Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan the Jan-May 2008 where tons of Marines, fellow Airmen and Soldiers loaded up and went down range to Afghanistan. Some of those Soldiers were carrying M14s and gave me the same thought as seeing them carrying SAWs: some Al-Queda or Taliban or whoever’s @$$ will be kicked hard. It has a great round size and is more than accurate. I think every squad should have an SDM.

been a believer of the m14 since 1968 it,s about time they brought it back.Just needed to lighten some parts such as stock, etc.

ASW

True, true the .308 IS vastly superior to the .223 for stand alone, squad gun or designated marksman roles. HELL it’s better than just about everything except making the bean counters happy! You know those guys who average out how many rounds per kill it takes. For them, small and cheaper is what made the decision for the .223 round that we are carrying today. My only problem with the new Springfield M-14 is that it looks like whats left after a robots’ abortion

ADW

I have been using the M14 SOPMOD with a PVS-10 for about 8 months in Iraq and it is one of the few systems for the M14/M21 that will let you keep your DOPE. With a little bit of work you can make this rifle shoot sub MOA at 600m. I would take an SR-25 over this but with the number of multi-target engagements and a low number of thoes SWSs in country this is a good compromise.

ADW

Tim

No sh!t sherlock, it’s about time we bring back ole reliable M-14. Yes, it’s heavier than that M-16/4 POS, big deal, lighten the soldiers load somewhere else. Don’t make him carry half of his footlocker into combat, give him more room to carry ammo. Not only is the M-14 a great rifle, but it fires a great cartridge. The .308 is infinitely better in performance than the .223 in every way. I guarantee you that a squad firing .308s is going to be far more effective in keeping the enemie’s head down as well.